What and who are the English?

[PalazioVecchio]

of course English culture does exist. But its so big that its become the Google/Microsoft Windows of cultures. So big that it is ubiquitous and often taken for granted.

When anybody stands at a Hotel reception , anyhere in the World, English language and culture is omnipresent.

 

[Matov]

The problem with the question is that it can turn into a purity spiral where people become defined by degrees of whether they are English or Scottish or whatever.

So, for example, both my parents were born in England. All four of my grandparents were born in England. And then it all gets a bit more mixed, with Scots and Irish thrown into the mix.

But when I look in the mirror, what I am confident of is that it is a European staring back.

And that is the future. Europe is a continent. It has a distinct and very obvious racial, as opposed to national, definition.

Now that is a huge leap to take but once you do, then petty squabbles about what it means to be English, or Danish, or whatever, become facile.

What matters is your being European. That is how the rest of the world will ultimately define you. And the hill our civilisation will ultimately survive or die on.

 

[PalazioVecchio]

But when I look in the mirror, what I am confident of is that it is a European staring back.

And that is the future. Europe is a continent. It has a distinct and very obvious racial, as opposed to national, definition.

What matters is your being European. That is how the rest of the world will ultimately define you. And the hill our civilisation will ultimately survive or die on.

so, you didnt look in your rearview mirror while driving through Croydon then ?

 

[rob1969]

I don't know what it's like nowadays as it's nearly 40 years since I was excommunicated from the South but when I was living in Surrey / West Sussex no-one cared about what religion one was. I worked next to a chap for several years before it came up in conversation that he was Jewish. I moved to Newcastle in the mid eighties and everyone I met wanted to know what religion I was and most weren't happy with my reply that I was a devout atheist.

40 years ago it seemed that the further North one went the more importance was placed on your religion but I have no idea what it's like nowadays

Agree. Forty years ago - lived and worked in South London. Girl from Preston came to work with us.
Apart from surprise that it sometimes didn't rain for days - she -out of blue - then commented that there seemed to be a lot of Catholics here. How she came to that conclusion I have no idea- or why sh cared !

 

[PalazioVecchio]

Agree. Forty years ago - lived and worked in South London. Girl from Preston came to work with us.
Apart from surprise that it sometimes didn't rain for days - she -out of blue - then commented that there seemed to be a lot of Catholics here. How she came to that conclusion I have no idea- or why sh cared !

whenever a fecker asks me my religion i always reply "i am the same religion as you are". They often find the answer disarming and confusing.

 

[Stirlingsays]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030989102263189538